MONEY MASTER

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): The equity rout, which was triggered by the Covid-19 outbreak gathered steam today, especially after the overnight bloodbath on Wall Street; the Dow Jones Industrial Average has tumbled more than 2,000 points this week. A strong wave of selling has swept across Asia. Malaysia, which is currently embroiled in a political crisis, is not spared from it. The RM20 billion stimulus package that was unveiled by interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not entice any investing interest. The benchmark index FBM KLCI fell 1.52% or 22.95 points to 1,482.64 points. The fall was not as sharp as its regional peers, such as Japan's Nikkei 225, which shed 805.2 points or 3.67%, Thailand’s SET Index, which tumbled nearly 4% or 55.31 points, Singapore’s Straits Times Index, which lost 100.6 points or 3.23%. Dealers explained the fall on local bourse was not as steep mainly because of lower exposure to foreign funds given that most of them ...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 27): The FBM KLCI closed 10.4 points or 0.7% higher today after index-linked stocks rose ahead of interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's speech on Malaysia's 2020 economic stimulus package and as local equities took cue from the current corporate financial reporting season. At 5pm, the KLCI ended at 1,505.59 although Bursa Malaysia small market capitalisation (small cap) stocks fell in apparent reflection of global share market sentiment amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Bursa's small cap index ended down 241.18 points or 1.78% at 13,324.48 after Asian shares tracked US stock futures losses. Among Asian stock indices, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi closed down 2.13% and and 1.05% respectively. CNBC reported that major Asia Pacific markets were mixed on Thursday as investors remained cautious over the fast-spreading new coronavirus that has infected more than 81,000 people and killed over 2,700.    “Most of...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): The FBM KLCI closed 5.69 points or 0.38% lower today at 1,495.19, mainly on Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd's share price slump as investors evaluated Malaysia's corporate financial results during the current reporting season. Malaysian share trade, which tracked Asian equity losses on persisting Covid-19 concerns, also appeared to have taken cue from interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's televised address at 4.45pm today when the KLCI rose before closing down at 5pm. It was reported that Malaysia is facing an unprecedented politicial situation following Dr Mahathir's surprise resignation as its seventh Prime Minister on Monday (Feb 24), and the exit of his political party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, from the Pakatan Harapan coalition. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong had appointed Dr Mahathir as interim Prime Minister, following the resignation. Today, Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd head of retail research Loui ...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 25): The FBM KLCI closed 10.82 points or 0.73% higher today at 1,500.88, on bargain hunting, after Malaysian stocks' substantial drop yesterday into a bear market, as investors weighed factors including Malaysian political uncertainties, besides the global Covid-19 outbreak and crude oil price slump. It was reported that Malaysia is facing an unprecedented politicial situation following Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's surprise resignation as its seventh prime minister yesterday, and the exit of his political party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, from the Pakatan Harapan coalition. It was reported that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has appointed Dr Mahathir as interim prime minister, following the resignation. Today, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong told theedgemarkets.com that the KLCI rebounded as the "political situation appeared to have slightly stabilised" after Dr Mahathir was appointed as the interim pr...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24): The FBM KLCI closed down 41.14 points or 2.69% at 1,490.06 today, after a sea of red washed over Malaysian stocks amid an unusual confluence of factors including the Covid-19 global outbreak, lower crude oil prices and Malaysia’s political uncertainty. A local fund manager, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told theedgemarkets.com that the Malaysian stock market has entered into a bear market as investors adopted a "sell-first, think-later" approach, while waiting for political clarity. The local fund manager said: “If you look at the grand scheme of things, the Malaysian market is certainly bearish at this point, based on the accepted ratio where stocks see a 20% decline from its recent peak. “It may rebound but everything will depend on the political temperature, which appears to be very fluid at this point, as more events unfold. If there are no developments to the political impasse, markets could fall further. The immedia...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): The FBM KLCI, which languished in negative territory throughout trading hours today, closed 3.78 points or 0.25% lower amid renewed concerns about the fast-spreading Covid-19's global economic impact. The benchmark index, which earlier touched an intraday low of 1,527.57 points, down 7.41 points or 0.48% —  pared about half its losses to settle at 1,531.20 at 5pm. Sime Darby Bhd led the decline among component stocks with a 2.33% drop, followed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd at 1.89%. The gainers included Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, which climbed 1.58% and Genting Bhd, which rose 1.28%. And among the most actively traded were Eduspec Holdings Bhd, XOX Bhd and Perdana Petroleum Bhd. Across the board, there were more decliners than gainers, at 439 versus 391. Total turnover stood at 2.73 billion shares worth RM2.14 billion across Bursa Malaysia.  Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong said the FBM KLCI faile...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): The FBM KLCI pared gains today to close 0.82 point or 0.05% higher as investors weighed the Covid-19 outbreak's impact on financial markets while evaluating Malaysian corporate financials during the current reporting season. The ringgit weakened. At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,534.98 after volatile trade. The index fell to its intraday low at 1,531.15 before rising to its high at 1,540.18 points. “Investors are less worried about the outbreak and are seeing that the outbreak could have slowed down,” Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd head of retail research Loui Low told theedgemarkets.com. Today, Bursa Malaysia saw 2.96 billion shares worth RM2.27 billion traded across the exchange as investors closely watched companies' financial results for the October-to-December 2019 quarter. The Malaysian corporate financial reporting season for the October-to-December quarter starts as early as January although most companies report their r...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 19): The FBM KLCI slid 0.19% on Wednesday, weighed down by glove counters following a declining trend in new cases of Covid-19 infections. The benchmark index erased early gains to close 2.92 points lower at 1,534.16, dragged by profit-taking in Top Glove Corp Bhd and Hartalega Holdings Bhd. Trading interest was concentrated on mid- and small-caps, with 2.54 billion shares valued at RM1.95 billion changing hands. PublicInvest Research analyst Lee Siao Ping said the market trailed yesterday’s movement, when small-cap stocks fell by a larger quantum after broad-based selling. Lee observed that investors are also cautious “as they await the fourth quarter and full-year financial results later this month”. Across Bursa Malaysia, decliners marginally led gainers, while 400 counters traded unchanged. Gainers were led by consumer stocks Carlsberg Brewery (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd and Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd. Decliners ...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18): The FBM KLCI closed 0.04 point lower at 1,537.08, while Bursa Malaysia small market capitalisation (small cap) stocks fell by a larger quantum after broad-based selling, following a substantial drop across global equity and commodity prices amid the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak concerns. Malaysia share-trade dynamics also took cue from the current corporate financial reporting season for the October-December 2019 quarter. At Bursa today, the KLCI closed at 1,537.08 at 5pm, after falling to its intraday low at 1,532.89. The Bursa small cap index ended down 168.36 points or 1.2% at 13,916.12. “As it is still (the) earlier part of the week, it seems like investors are having a cautious stance and is holding back,” TA Securities Holdings Bhd senior technical analyst Stephen Soo told theedgemarkets.com. Across Bursa, the exchange saw 2.78 billion shares worth RM2.06 billion traded, as decliners led gainers by 598 to 2...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 17): The FBM KLCI retreated 7.34 points or 0.48% to close at 1,537.12 today, as global investors weighed the spectre of recession in Japan and Singapore amid persisting concerns over the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong told theedgemarkets.com that the KLCI's fall today was due to weaker-than-expected Japan economic data. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed down 0.69%. Reuters , citing Japan government data, reported Japan's economy contracted at an annualised pace of 6.3% in October-December, shrinking at the fastest pace since the second quarter of 2014. It was reported that the preliminary reading for the fourth-quarter gross domestic product was much worse than economists' median estimate of a 3.7% contraction in a Reuters poll. "Trade-dependent Singapore downgraded its 2020 economic growth forecast and is set to unveil measures to cushion the blow f...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 14): The FBM KLCI closed up 5.3 points or 0.34% at its intraday high today following a final-hour spike in an apparent reaction to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's statement that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will announce an economic stimulus package on Feb 27 to mitigate the Covid-19 outbreak's impact on Malaysia. At 5pm today, the KLCI closed at 1,544.46, supported by sharp 11th-hour gains in prices of index-linked stocks including Maxis Bhd and Digi.Com Bhd. "The stimulus intends to mitigate the adverse external economic impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on Malaysia while preserving the welfare of the rakyat (people)," Lim said in the statement. Across Bursa Malaysia, 2.67 billion shares exchanged hands for RM2.26 billion. A total of 465 counters gained against 330 decliners. Maxis closed up 13 sen or 2.36% at RM5.63 while Digi.Com rose eight sen or 1.83% to RM4.45. Fund managers said Malaysian shares will a...

  KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13): The FBM KLCI closed 0.24% lower today, dragged by a sell-off in tourism and banking stocks following renewed fears of the Covid-19 outbreak arising from a sudden jump in death toll announced by China today. The benchmark index erased early gains to close 3.78 points lower at 1,539.16, from a selldown in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Hong Leong and CIMB stocks. TA Research analyst Stephen Soo said he expects the KLCI to drift lower towards the weekend amid renewed fears over the Covid-19 outbreak coupled with the recently-announced weak GDP numbers for Malaysia for 4Q19. “There was some bargain hunting amongst mid- and small-cap stocks but the market had not priced in any upside from the upcoming economic stimulus package from the Government pending more details,” Soo told theedgemarkets.com. The global death toll from Covid-19 topped 1,300 today, after health authorities at the outbreak centre in Hubei, China announced 242...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): The FBM KLCI retreated 0.55% today to erase early gains, following weaker-than-expected GDP growth data for Malaysia in the fourth quarter of 2019. The benchmark index rose to a high of 1,555.66 points today, before retreating from noon onwards to close 8.54 points lower at 1,542.94 as banking stocks dragged. Earlier today, Bank Negara Malaysia announced that Malaysia's 4Q19 GDP growth came in at 3.6% — the lowest in 10 years and lower than market consensus — bringing full-year 2019 growth to 4.3%. BNM governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus told a press briefing that the central bank has “ample room” for rate cut, after a 25-basis-point cut in January. “The weak numbers is for 4Q19, even before the impact of the coronavirus outbreak,” Areca Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Danny Wong Teck Meng noted. “While this month is the 4Q19 results seasons for listed companies, the data could also mean that the results for the f...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 11): The FBM KLCI Index rose 0.56% alongside gains in the regional markets, on a stronger stance by China to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) a.k.a. Wuhan virus outbreak on its economy. The benchmark index hit its intra-day high of 1,554.67 points before settling at 1,551.48, still up 8.68 points from previous close. Gainers in the index were led by Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd and Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd, supported by bargain hunting, following a slump in their share prices late last month. After the slump, investors may be using the opportunity to buy some shares ahead of the quarterly results release that would go full swing this month, said HLIB Research analyst Loui Low Ley Yee when contacted. “There are expectations of better results in select sectors for 4Q19,” Low said, adding the market may have priced in most of the impact from the coronavirus outbreak, considering some slowdown in the negative news f...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10): The FBM KLCI closed 0.75% lower today amid renewed fears on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, as death toll climbed. The benchmark index snapped its four days of consecutive gains, as it retreated 11.69 points to 1542.80, dragged by Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd and Genting Malaysia Bhd. Rakuten Trade vice president of research Vincent Lau, when contacted, maintained that “the focus remains on the coronavirus outbreak”, where the death toll has surpassed that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 over the weekend. At press time, the virus has infected over 40,000 individuals in 28 countries, with 910 officially dead. Meanwhile, foreign investors are reported to have continued to sell Malaysian equities. Foreign investors disposed of RM327.4 million net of local equities last week, the third weekly foreign net outflow so far in 2020. Acoss Bursa Malaysia, some 2.42 billion shares valued at R...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 7): The FBM KLCI, which languished in the red throughout most of the trading session today, eventually settled 0.11% higher, lifted by last-minute gains in index-linked counters. At 5pm, the benchmark index was 1.72 points higher at 1,554.49, as Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd (HLFG), CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and Maxis Bhd recorded gains. HLFG closed 6.93% or RM1.12 higher at RM17.28, giving it a market capitalisation of RM19.79 billion, while CIMB ended 13 sen or 2.59% higher at RM5.15, which gave it a market value of RM51.10 billion. Maxis climbed 5 sen or 0.93% to RM5.45, for a market capitalisation of RM42.62 billion. Across the local exchange, there were 343 gainers versus 424 losers, while 445 stocks remained unchanged. A total of 2.74 billion shares worth RM2.17 billion were transacted, compared with yesterday's 3.08 billion shares worth RM2.48 billion. TA Securities senior technical analyst Stephen Soo, when contacted, said m...

LONDON (Feb 5): Oil prices jumped by more than 3% on Wednesday on reports that scientists have developed an effective drug against the fast-spreading coronavirus that has weighed heavily on global economic activity. News that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its producer allies are considering further output cuts to counter a potential squeeze on global oil demand further supported that had collapsed by more than 20% since early January. Both Brent crude oil futures and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped by more than 3% in morning trade. By 0947 GMT Brent was up US$1.44, or 2.6%, at US$55.40 a barrel and (WTI) was up US$1.19, or 2.4%, at US$50.80. China's Changjiang daily reported on Tuesday that a research team at Zhejiang University had found two new drugs that can effectively "inhibit coronavirus". Separately, Sky News reported that a British scientist has made a significant breakthrough in the race...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 4): The FBM KLCI closed 13.85 points or 0.91% higher at 1,535.80 today, to mark its first rise after ten consecutive trading days of losses Today, broad-based buying was seen across Bursa Malaysia on bargain hunting, after local shares were beaten down, amid China Wuhan coronavirus outbreak concerns. Malaysian shares could have also tracked global equity gains today. At 5pm, the KLCI closed up at 1,535.80 after rising to its intraday high at 1,542.59. The KLCI ended higher today after ten consecutive trading days of losses since Jan 20, when the index closed down at 1,588.88. Today, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong told theedgemarkets.com: “The recovery seen in the KLCI and global indexes today was mainly due to bargain-hunting activities among investors [after the sell-down on virus fears]. Across Bursa, 3.05 billion shares worth RM2.56 billion were traded. Top gainers included Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Petronas G...

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3): The FBM KLCI today extended its losses for the 10th consecutive trading day in tandem with the regional bourses as investors have turned cautious while assessing the possible impacts of the Wuhan virus outbreak. Dealers do not foresee any strong recovery in the near term until there are signs of certainty in containing the spread of the Wuhan virus that has reached over 20 countries currently. The benchmark index, which has been in the negative zone throughout the entire trading day, fell 9.11 points or 0.6% to close at 1,521.95 points — the lowest level since January 2011. It hit a low of 1,517.61 points today. Year to date, the KLCI has shed 4.83%. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index declined 7.72%, and an estimated US$370 billion of market capitalisation has evaporated after the panic selldown on the first trading day after the Lunar New Year break. On Bursa Malaysia, losers outnumbered gainers by 738 to 281, while 327 ...